People who had purchased tickets for a screening of “Into the Wild” at Kenyon Hall in West Seattle Monday night were treated to a surprise performance by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, according to a report in Billboard magazine. A second show was Tuesday night. …

On the lighter side this Thursday … Today’s story on the proposed state toxic toy ban that could shut down Ballard landmark Archie McPhee’s reminded one reader of a Saturday Night Live commercial parody from 1991 for Happy Fun Ball — the “toy sensation that’s sweeping the nation” but comes with bizarre warnings like, “Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.” …

The presidential election is still (still?) upon us, and Seattle’s Hillstars and Obamaniacs are sharing their REM-induced candidate encounters with the world in sister blogs I Dream of Barack and I Dream of Hillary. …